The Reading Room

Such a cute place!I visited The Reading Room one weekday morning to get some work done and I'm so glad that I did. Located in the buzzing Decatur area, this restaurant is truly in a prime location. With little street parking open on that morning, I ended up parking at a nearby lot and taking a quick stroll through the beautiful neighborhood for my visit. Upon entry, I was blown away by the beautiful interior decor. Such a gorgeous place! There are a few small tables outside on their terrace as well bar-top seating and a few tables indoors. Not a huge place or a place to bring a large group, but I think that's a great thing because it was so peaceful even as folks chattered about. I snagged a table close to the door because I saw an open outlet that my dying macbook desperately needed, but apparently there are plugs under the seats! (I struggled to find mine but I think that was user error lol). Logging onto the wifi was super easy as they clearly display the password at the counter. I did have to leave early because my connection dropped and it would no longer allow me to access it, but beyond that, it was great while it lasted. The team was incredibly helpful and they were moving swiftly through the other customers that were hustling through. I was surprised that there ended up being some small lines building as the afternoon went on, but when you're serving up greatness, that's what happens! I ended up grabbing a latte and an almond croissant that was flaky, toasted and delicious. I was just a few minutes shy of their lunch menu starting up and hate that I missed out, but I will definitely be returning to try out the rest of the menu as the options sounded so good. Visiting for an early morning afternoon of remote work was wonderful but I'm definitely looking forward to checking out their events, wine specials and charcuterie boards!

Came here thinking this was a spot to really chill and work until 5 when it turns more into a bar, and unfortunately I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice place, but it is definitely a restaurant and not intended for you to be there for an extended period of time. They even have a little paper popup on the table that request that you limit your time to two hours. Either way, I'm not going to fault them for my misunderstanding based on a Facebook reel. The reason I give this place a 4/5 is just because of the limited seating of the venue. If the place was packed, I just see a bunch of people being annoyed from sitting at the bar getting accidently hit in the back by people walking down the one way aisle to the bathroom or to their seat trying to avoid the people who are in the chairs that are kinda sorta a fourth of the way if not more in the middle of the one person walk way. Beyond that there are positives I assure you. The staff was very welcoming and inviting, very patient for those like myself who had never been before and my girlfriend who is picky about her coffee and wanting to know what this is and what that is. I saw something that I knew and automatically went for it: The Cortado which is simply espresso and milk. The menu says 4-6 oz for $4, but I was not asked how many oz I wanted, or maybe it just depends on what cups they have in stock. It is what it is. It was good. I thought it would taste good with pumpkin seasoning in it, because you know, fall flavors, and it did, but I should have just got it made regularly. I did get it with oat milk instead of regular milk, which I think is probably the one thing that saved it from the taste of the pumpkin spice. To eat I got a bacon and egg biscuit. It was acceptable. Wasn't exactly a fan of the price, $10, which I did not see listed anywhere, but it was my first meal of the day, so I'm not going to complain. I wish I had gotten the cheese Danish that my girlfriend got though, it was on point and tasted sooo good heated up, though she did have to ask them to heat it up a second time, which for some reason seemed to take a while and there were not really a lot of people in there. Lastly, it should go without saying that since it was downtown, there is no public parking, at least none that I saw, but I paid roughly $3 for 1 hour street parking, so, ehh, I didn't feel too hurt. Final verdict: Venue: 3/5Service: 4/5Food: 4/5Overall, nice spot, at least based on the before 5 vibe, because it changes over into more of a wine based venue afterwards, but in terms of the breakfast aesthetics, I would say try it, but I won't be back.

I was not a fan the one visit I made. It has a lot more sophisticated setting than other coffee spots nearby, which might be a good niche to fill. But it feels like you're paying a lot more for the "ambiance" than the actual food or drink. Everything we got was fine I guess? But I have to call out that I paid $12 for some brunch special called the "Waffle board" that was advertised as 4 waffles, but it was just the 4 quadrants of a waffle cut up, stacked, and each was called its own waffle. Pathetic. I could have gotten 4x the amount of food at Waffle House.Given that it's occupying the space that Java Monkey was once at, it's impossible not to compare the two. And I'd just say bring back Java Monkey. At least there I could use my laptop at night.

Reading the room and sipping my sunrise latte. --letting the day unfold one sip at a time was my entire mood during my visit! The Reading Room, located in the City of Decatur, is a truly essential spot. The ambiance is inviting, with shelves of books, cozy seating, and a charming half bar. If you prefer some fresh air, there's also an outdoor patio where you can enjoy your drink or meal. It's a place that offers options for every mood.I went for the Sunrise Latte, a delightful blend of double espresso, Indian Gulab Jamun syrup, orange extract, and a few other spices. I have to say, it exceeded my expectations! I'm excited to explore the rest of the menu, which offers plenty of tempting options. They even have a weekend brunch! However, during this visit, I decided to skip the food and pastries as I was already full from my morning breakfast. A few things to note: while there is some street parking available, there are also parking lots nearby for added convenience.The staff is limited, so it's important to pack your patience as they work hard to accommodate everyone. You also have the option to RSVP in advance.They also host events here, so be sure to stay tuned for updates and resources. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon!

We found the reading room as we were looking for a place to grab drinks! It is soo cute! I love the cozy but cute vibe of this place! They have breakfast menus in am, but in pm turns into a wine/ cocktail bar! My partner got a whiskey and coke and I got two spicy Rita's! The bartender made the drinks so well and it was so beautifully displayed! They also had a live dj for a dance party! I told my friends and we're def coming back to try one of their spritz flights

I met a friend for coffee at The Reading Room and it's such a cute spot. It's also a cocktail bar, and that's how it feels. They have a boho vibe, and also a cute little archway lined with books.I ordered a seasonal drink with baklava syrup. It was good! My friend got a smoothie and a latte and enjoyed both.They have signs on the tables saying no laptops after 5pm, so that's great for when it turns into the cocktail bar!

I absolutely loved the ambience of this place! It had such a cozy feel and the drinks just enhanced the experience. I had a matcha latte with the french lavender syrup which tasted amazing!! I also had a spinach quiche that was decent, I just felt it needed a little more salt. This is a perfect place to wfh or get some schoolwork done. I look forward to returning.

The inside decor is beautiful and very cozy- they all fit the theme. It's very busy and compact with tables and chairs. The WiFi wasn't working for us when we were there, which made studying hard. It's a mix of a talking and studying cafe. There are some outdoor chairs and not a lot of outlets. I got a small hot sunrise, which tasted so good as a hot drink. I loved the little latte art. I was not a fan of either beers sadly; both were not good in my opinion. I also like how this place switches from a cafe to bar.

A beautiful restaurant with equally satisfying food. Location and Parking Located in downtown Decatur, you will need to pay or hunt for a free spot on the street to park. Venue and Atmosphere Reading Room features a small patio, plenty of seating, and two cozy nooks with couches. They have beautiful light features as well as plenty of natural light. Order at the counter, take a number, and the food will arrive at your seat. I brought my laptop as they have free wifi and a pleasant work environment. They do transition into a wine bar after 5, and no laptops are allowed. Service Service was prompt, courteous, and efficient. Food and Beverages The smoked ham and brie sandwich, as well as the berry smoothie, were tasty. The sandwich is served with chips and the smoothie wasn't overly sweet. Verdict I'll be back!

Came for breakfast, and it was a busy weekend with a small line inside the store. I think the place was understaffed, as it took a while (15-20 minutes) to get up front and order. Any case, I ordered The Sunrise special, which is a latte spiced with orange and five spices. I ordered it hot, and while the flavors were there, I think the orange flavor part wasn't mixed well enough with the rest of the coffee, so it felt a bit incongruous.My partner and I also got some pastries, including a cinnamon roll, strawberry Danish, and ham and cheese croissant. The cinnamon roll was my favorite, by far: it was warmed up, and it made the pastry extra flaky, extra rich, and just plain good. The strawberry Danish was tasty, but I wasn't a huge fan of the ham and cheese croissant, as there wasn't much ham or cheese inside.Overall, The Reading Room has some good and some inconsistent items, but still worth coming for the atmosphere and vibes. The décor is beautifully-decorated, too, with books and literary themes all around. Worth a try!